NEWSPAPER SUMMARY - Friday 8th February

skibster

I know it's late in the day to post, but here goes:

The Independent has a series of little guide books called The Great Philosophers that comes free each day in the paper through 15 February. For a list of who is included in each day's booklet, go to: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/article775865.ece.

mhoc

Not tried this yet but in sainsburys if you buy the Independent you get £1 off a magazine costing more than £1. As the paper is 80p its only really worth doing if you alreayd buy - see the magazine thread for what mags to buy this month.

Sorry dont know the details, exp date etc

skibster wrote: »

I know it's late in the day to post, but here goes:

The Independent has a series of little guide books called The Great Philosophers that comes free each day in the paper through 15 February. For a list of who is included in each day's booklet, go to: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/article775865.ece.

rose28454

Quentin wrote: »

Sorry, but I don't follow your arguments

To post about a coupon being available, and on 2 separate days to make an issue about people using the coupon certainly smacks of both hypocrisy and double standards, and there is nothing rude in pointing that out.



As I never brought that up, I don't really know what point you are trying to make.



How can it possibly be abuse.

How are we to know which coupons they can or cannot redeem. All we can do is hand them in when shopping. Around here shops happily accept each others coupons, and clearly cannot redeem them.

And if you need 10 copies of this particular coupon (why not just buy the one then pass it on when you've read it), then you can get them free from the Daily Mail's website, so don't bother buying 10 mails.

Where abouts are they on the site please. I know e are not supposed to be having a discussion but I buy extra DMS when this offer is on and use one voucher every time I shop. Please dont worry about poor old Tesco thy can afford it!!

Quentin

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=719003

See post #4

quoia

Right, now I've actually got a few minutes to spare, a response to those that have a problem with the DM post.
I wont quote each and every one, it's pointless, but I will try to address all issues raised.
I may refer to user names and post numbers to provide some sort of order and keep track of replies, but some may contain replies to points raised elewhere and I'd like not to have to repeat myself if I can. (This will be a long enough post as it is) I suggest you all get a cup of tea and a biscuit (or perhaps make that a LARGE MUG and a packet ?)
Hope you take the time to read it, given I've taken the time to write it. Thanks.
Also "YOU" in many references is not aimed at any individual but a general reference to whoever is reading.

TOB #4 - No problem with most of what you say (and politely put - thanks).
The manufacturer coupons and the "£5 off £50" type are "fine" - the fact that Asda take Tesco versions (and vice-versa) is all down to the fact that the coupons are basically a 10% (or whatever) of a "min-spend" trolley full of shopping. Asda take the stance that they'd like you to spend £50 there instead of at Tesco and if the £50 of shopping at Tesco will only cost you £45 (with this coupon) then Asda will basically match the deal. Tesco does the same.
BUT this is their choice - store policy. DM book tokens fall into a different realm - they are worthless bits of paper - the fact that some checkout operators take them when you hand them over is questionable.

Putting it slightly differently. If you went to customer services and showed them the DM book token and they said "We DON'T take them", would you still try to get one passed a checkout operator ?

How different is it if I could print you a piece of glossy paper that has a "99" barcode on that will give a £5 discount.
I could add a valid until date, a box number address (ficticious) for Asda/Tesco to send it to for redemption, a picture of a jar of Nescafe.
The usual wording about usage etc. making it look "professional" - dare I say genuine !
Would you hand in one of these ?
How about a forged five pound note if you KNEW that it was ? Would you work on the principle that (like any coupon) if it's accepted at the till they it's OK ? Their mistake for not rejecting it ?

You could say that it is a grey area (for the DM BT) but where do you draw the line? You say you only shop at Tesco BECAUSE they accept coupons - what if using the DM BTs stopped this altogether ?

And TOB - "Sunk below reproach ? Never!


Q #12 - The DM BT will still be posted on this thread even if I don't do it, at least I can post a warning (that many other MSEers agree with) which may stem its usage a little and prolong the period before Tesco stop accepting ALL coupons. R&R (if you know what that is) was stopped by Tesco probably because of the actions of individuals abusing the system. Walking out of Tesco laden with XBoxes, Laptops and TVs having paid nothing for them - bet many of them went straight on ebay !
Just because you read Saturday's thread doesn't mean everyone who read today's did - or if they did even remebered it. Can't see any harm in a reminder.
Regards associations that shops belong to - the DM BT clearly states the T&Cs it can be used under and a website for where. Ignorance is no excuse particularly if you are subsequently told.

Q #17 - "happy to accept it" - Ask at customer services before using it - get them to OK it and use as many as you wish (with my blessing) - sliding a few passed unsuspecting checkout operators doesn't mean the store is "happy to accept it" - See above about home made coupons / forged fivers !
What you say about other coupons is true (and most state on them it is fraud to use in the manner that many do) but handing over a £1 coupon (to a store that has agreed to accept them), that HAS a £1 value to the store if they choose to redeem it with the issuers IS THIER CHOICE. The DM BT doesn't give them one.

SS #19 - I didn't think I was lecturing - just pointing out something that many people are unaware of, most believing these DM BTs to be just the same as other money off coupons. I wasn't the first by a long shot to point out the difference and what the long term consequence of mass redemption might be.
Whilst your post was only as a response to mine, surely my post is only what you stated in the very last sentence of yours ? Unfortunately to do very the last bit, they need the facts - ignorance or assumptions doesn't make it right.
Regards what you say about Tesco may be very true and IF taking these for "gaining extra business" IS company policy then OK. All I can do is refer you back to "Q #17" and the "happy to accept it" bit and relate an experience of mine.
I get the DM most days of the week and some months ago, having shopped at very large Tesco Extra, handing in a selection of "normal" coupons and paid the remaider, I produced a DM BT and enquired if I could have used it. The operator was unsure but didn't think so, then asking a colleague at the next till. He was certain that you couldn't (EVEN if you bought the book!!! - which was on sale and in stock) but called for a supervisor to confirm. She agreed it was not redeemable - "Tesco don't take book tokens" - I queried about buying the book - and as she pointed out the token said the £4 reduction was for the specified book when on sale at £7.99 - Tesco were already selling the book for just £3.50 (I understand that's why they aren't members of the National Booksellers Association. They are either barred from joining because of the way they discount books or if they were to join they would have to sell books at the price stipulated by the publishers.)
Anyway I was referred to Customer Services where a similar statement about the DM BT was made by 2 members of staff. I asked if they could confirm why it was an issue unlike "similar" magazine coupons. I showed them a £2.70 off Harper's Bazaar coupon - No problem, they were perfectly happy to take that, I know I said "You just have - 2 of them". Was it because it was £4 ? No they said. "Can you find out why not?"I pressed. "Yes - just a moment" A phone call and a few minutes later I was discussing it with a very senior accounts manager responsible not only for that store but several others. He basically said they didn't take them because they were "worthless" to Tesco since they, as a company, couldn't redeem them to the issuers for the £4 "face value". He also said that Tesco were looking into "the excesses" of coupon usage and other aspects of "losses within stores". Needless to say but R&R stopped within a couple of months!
As far as I was concerned that was from the horse's mouth, and since I'd still like to redeem my £2.70 Harper's Bazaar coupons (when I get them / or similar - remember £5 off Pampers?) and loads of others, frequently and without hassle for the foreseeable future, although I'd never used a DM BT before then, I decided never to even try. I've thrown dozens away!

Q #21 - To re-iterate -The DM BT's existance WOULD HAVE BEEN POSTED without my "help". Not everyone that read today's thread would have definitely read Saturday's. Many members believe the DM BT is exactly the same as any other money-off coupon, IT ISN'T. How is anyone going to find out if nobody informs them ?
If I sent you a home-made coupon or forged fiver would you try and use it on the basis that it's down to the store NOT to accept it if they don't want to ?
Stores accepting rivals' voucher of the £5 off £50 type has already been covered - they don't try to to redeem them !

TB #24 - The Newspaper Summary thread usually goes into 2 or 3 pages on DM BT day irrespective of any discussion of its usage like today. Usually it's questions like "Is it there ?" What page it is on? Anyone used one yet? Did it scan OK or did it have to be keyed in? Is the barcode nice and clear? - Then a newbie wants to know what all the excitement is about and someone explains. Then the newbie comes back quering about using coupons for non-purchased items. And it goes on....
Yes there are a few threads that have a no chat no discussion policy - the free cinema ticket one for instance - the only posts that should be added there are ones for NEW codes and links and offers - and for good reason. The important posts get swamped and lost amongst mostly garbage, and many subscribe on that thread to receive Instant Email Notification so as not to miss out on an offer - trying to be first to apply for them. The "no chat" is an attempt to keep a single thread such that it can exist for months if not years at a time before having to start another one. As it happens there is a "parallel" thread specifically for discussions & chat about the offers or even the films themselves.
The newspaper threads are different - a NEW one each day - can't remember the last time one hit 5 pages - so under 80 posts - indeed it rarely gets to a 3rd. Questions will always get asked - so discussion will take place. If you think certain type of discussion should be elsewhere, how would newcomers to the newspaper summaries and the DM BT find out, be made aware of its issues, and get involved unless a post refering to it appeared IN a relevant newspaper summary ?

Q #25 - You've obviously NEVER been "lectured" if you think that was one - as to "contributed further", I was very busy for most of the day!

IDS #26 - You obviously didn't read the post - Name of the book WAS included. I didn't have access to a paper and so not to the barcode number but did post is was worth £4 - it was the same as Saturday's and the same as the one available online - so as usual is starts 99 and ends 400n. Knowing it for this particular "coupon" is irrelevant.
Expiry date ? - it's for the Book of the MONTH - it expires as it always does on the last day of the MONTH. Next MONTH there will be a different book that this BT "can't" be used for - wrong book, wrong MONTH!
Interesting that you hade to "WADE" through 24 posts. WOW !

SS #27 - POT, KETTLE, BLACK ? What's that phrase? On the "Free Cinema Tickets - CODES ONLY - NO Discussion, NO CHAT" thread - over the last few days that's all you have posted there! CHAT ! Much to hundreds of peoples annoyance!

TB2000 - #28 - Sorry - Can't make this a rule - discussion will take place about coupons and vouchers, where they've scanned or not, where Tesco will take one but Asda won't, this is all part of the same thing and given this is where most people find out about the DM BT, this must be the place to raise the issues and question its usage.

Q #29 - Discussion on all threads? NO not all - see #24 & #27 re Free Cinema Tickets - very valid reason for No chat - BUT the Newspaper Summary ones ? MOST DEFINITELY!

CM #30 - Well said & thanks

Q #31 - Not sure when you thought I was here or how long I was about but I popped into MSE for literally just a couple of minutes a couple of times mid-morning and mid-afternoon, nowhere near a PC for at least 10 hours today.
Yes I did see a discussion had started but I didn't really have the time to post anything significant, and I couldn't see the point of making one short reply and then going out for 4 hours.
Can't see why you have such a problem about pointing out an issue with a particular "coupon" on just the 2 days that it is issued in a newspaper. Just because you read it twice - doesn't mean everybody did!

Rose #34 - I'm NOT concerned about Tesco "affording it" - I'm concerned (along with many others) that continued mass misuse of the DM BT will make them change their overall coupon policy such that NO coupons of any sort will be accepted - That would affect both ME and YOU !
What would you prefer? £100 off your Tesco shopping this year but nothing more from 2009 onwards or £50 off your shopping for this year AND a continued £50 off each and every year for the next TEN ?
All I'm saying is PLEASE DON'T BREAK THE SYSTEM !!!

That's about it, not sure there is much more I can say.
Just going out back in a while.

thebrow2000

Some interesting and informative information. The trouble is how many people will stop using the bt? I think most peeps will carry on using them until Mr T's stop taking coupons and that includes me. Although it will make me question future mass puchases of the DM.
Unless everyone stops using the BT (which i doubt it), then i dont want to miss out on massive savings. I would imagine there are more people who use them. than those who make a stand not to.
Keep up the good work Quoia and lets continue with a friendly healthy debate

Discodee

rose28454 wrote: »

Where abouts are they on the site please. I know e are not supposed to be having a discussion but I buy extra DMS when this offer is on and use one voucher every time I shop. Please dont worry about poor old Tesco thy can afford it!!

I don't worry in the slightest about "poor old tesco!" lmao
I worry about poor old me not being able to make x amount of dosh per yr when Tesco reverse their coupon policy, as I said earlier in this thread! (I think it must be me, cos my hubby and kids rarely take any notice of what I say either!;) :rotfl: )

Quoia has put it in a nutshell here
Rose #34 - I'm NOT concerned about Tesco "affording it" - I'm concerned (along with many others) that continued mass misuse of the DM BT will make them change their overall coupon policy such that NO coupons of any sort will be accepted - That would affect both ME and YOU !
What would you prefer? £100 off your Tesco shopping this year but nothing more from 2009 onwards or £50 off your shopping for this year AND a continued £50 off each and every year for the next TEN ?
All I'm saying is PLEASE DON'T BREAK THE SYSTEM !!!